Apple’s latest iOS updates, 18.4 and 18.4.1, have introduced a mix of new features and persistent issues. While enhancements like expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities and new emojis have been welcomed, problems with CarPlay connectivity and battery performance continue to affect users.
What’s New in iOS 18.4
Released on March 31, 2025, iOS 18.4 brought several notable features:
- Apple Intelligence Enhancements: Priority Notifications now help users focus on important alerts, and Visual Intelligence has been expanded to more devices, including iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
- Image Playground Sketch Style: A new sketch style has been added to Image Playground, allowing users to create detailed, academic-style sketches.
- Expanded Language Support: Apple Intelligence now supports additional languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese, along with localized English for Singapore and India.
- New Emojis: Eight new emojis were introduced, featuring items like a tired face, fingerprint, leafless tree, root vegetable, harp, shovel, splatter, and the flag of Sark.
- Apple CarPlay Enhancements: For vehicles with larger infotainment displays, CarPlay now supports a third row of app icons. Additionally, sports score apps can display real-time updates directly through CarPlay.
- Ambient Music: A new Ambient Music option was added to the Control Center, offering playlists designed for sleep, relaxation, productivity, and wellbeing.
iOS 18.4.1: Bug Fixes and Security Updates
On April 16, 2025, Apple released iOS 18.4.1, focusing on addressing specific issues:
- CarPlay Connectivity Fixes: The update aimed to resolve problems where CarPlay would not connect or function properly in certain vehicles.
- Security Patches: Two critical security vulnerabilities, identified as CVE-2025-31200 and CVE-2025-31201, were addressed. These flaws could potentially allow malicious actors to exploit CoreAudio and WebKit components.
Ongoing Issues Reported by Users
Despite the updates, users have reported several persistent issues:
- CarPlay Problems Persist: Many users continue to experience CarPlay connectivity issues, including failure to connect, frequent disconnections, and unresponsive interfaces, even after updating to iOS 18.4.1.
- Battery Drain: Some iPhone users have noticed increased battery consumption, with devices draining faster than usual post-update.
- Face ID and Safari Glitches: Reports indicate that Face ID occasionally fails to recognize users, and Safari has issues with copying and pasting content, particularly when interacting with certain websites.
- Bricked Devices: A minority of users have reported that their iPhones became unresponsive or “bricked” after installing iOS 18.4.1, necessitating a full device restore.
Should You Update?
The decision to update to iOS 18.4.1 depends on your specific needs and concerns:
- Security: If you prioritize having the latest security patches, updating is advisable.
- CarPlay Users: If you rely heavily on CarPlay and are experiencing issues, you might consider waiting for a more stable update, as problems persist for some users even after the latest patch.
- General Users: If your device is functioning well and you don’t require the new features immediately, it may be prudent to wait and monitor user feedback before updating.
Apple’s iOS 18.4 and 18.4.1 updates bring valuable features and important security fixes. However, the ongoing issues reported by users highlight the challenges of software updates. It’s essential to weigh the benefits against potential drawbacks and decide based on your individual usage and needs.
